some photos of the garden in progress

Bed 1: peas, squash, carrots, lettuce, mesclun, spinach!

I built these garden beds from untreated 2x6 lumber. I sawed an 8' length in half for each side (each bed requires 4 8' 2x6s, and will be just under a foot high), then screwed the two pieces together at the ends, THEN screwed two of these together to make a square - this is one layer.

All 8 layers were painted with Rustoleum on the outside to prevent rotting - untreated lumber was used to minimize chemicals leaking into the food.

To set them in place, first lay down one layer, get it as close to level as you can, and hammer stakes into the ground up against each side to anchor it for all eternity (stakes should be about 2ft long). Screw the bottom layer of the planter to the stakes, then place the top layer and screw it to the stakes as well.

Each one is filled with a mixture of screened dirt from the excavation (native soil), and Miracle Gro Organic Garden Soil (which, surprisingly, contained a LOT of shredded plastic - i need to have some words with the peeps at Miracle Gro) - about 2 bags full per container.

If you are planting on a hillside, like i was, be sure so shore up the soil inder the front edge of your beds - an early flash flood before the soil is settled can result in a deadly washout.

Closeup of one of my kohlrabi, starting to look like it's bearing fruit.

closeup of some of my tomatoes and peppers, doing really well in the sun!

tomatoes and peppers of all kinds.

more tomatoes and peppers.

Sunflowers, beets, radishes, squash.

Peas and squash.

squash and mesclun mix.

more squash.

a perennial geranium, a gift from my friend Beth :)

a healthy little radish begging to be picked!

First Harvest! French Breakfast Radishes

Yesterday i harvested the first of my fully grown French Breakfast Radishes - 3 of them!
I've scanned the web for some history, and it sees there is no record of the French actually eating these for breakfast.
Unlike the traditional radish you see in grocery stores, these are narrower and more elongate than a standard radish - they range in size from that of a man's stocky, muscular thumb to a petite index finger. The greens are said to be edible, but with the slugs i have seen ravaging my garden after the rains earlier this year, i think i'll pass!
Radishes are a very rewarding crop to grow - they mature in about a month, and can be started directly in the soil you plan to grow them in - no need to start seedlings indoors early. The rapid growth cycle probably means these would grow nicely indoors, if you had a lot of light, and kept them moist (rain and fog supposedly keep them tasting tender and mild... just like jesus in that song...oh... that was bad.) Though the entire crop isn't mature yet, i suspect these will all be harvested by the middle of august. They don't take up a ton of room, and are great to plant around other plants, because you can pull them up early in the season, giving those other plants room to grow. According to several sites, it's a good companion plant, helping to organically combat disease and pests when planted near other veggies (from http://www.humeseeds.com/comp1.htm):

Radishes--This is one vegetable that has a lot of friends, they are excellent companion plants with beets, carrots, spinach and parsnips. Radishes grow well with cucumbers and beans. It's said that summer planting near leaf lettuce makes the radishes more tender. Avoid planting radishes near cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli, kohlrabi or turnips.

As a bit of history, I haven't done any gardening since i was about 12. Since then, i have killed a LOT of houseplants, including an aloe plant. I spent 8 years in college learning biology, but never took a botany course. so, if i can grow delicious radishes in my front yard, anyone can! :)
Recipe searches for this variety of radish hasn't turned up much - most say to dip them in butter and salt and just eat them, or to slice them and eat them on buttered bread. I'm looking for something a little more involved. here are a few recipes i've found:
Radish Salad
Poached Radish Vinaigrette
I only have 2 left to eat right now, and i think they may go into a green salad. i should wait another few days before i pick any more. any suggestions on what i should do with them when they're ready?